Borgonovo is a peaceful village at 1,027 m above sea level, just above Stampa. Along the main road stand houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, with small gardens and traditional barns in between. For a stay combining an interest in culture and outdoor activities, there are several places to start: the village itself, the Church of San Giorgio, and several Giacometti routes with different itineraries.

Giacometti trails with different itineraries

The guided Giacometti Trail usually starts in Borgonovo and ends in Stampa. Participants walk a simple, flat route of around 1.5 km. Details for arranging a visit may change, so check them in advance if you are planning this tour. The Sentiero Giacometti follows a different route: from Borgonovo and San Giorgio, it leads via Creista, Samarovan, Coltura, San Pietro, and Palü to Stampa. It traces the artistic paths of the Giacometti family. When planning, the two options differ in their approach: the guided tour focuses on the approximate walking distance and the simple, flat route, while the Sentiero focuses on the sequence of places.

The Giacometti Photo Trail runs from Coltura through Stampa to Alberto Giacometti’s grave in the San Giorgio cemetery near Borgonovo. Its final two stops are at the Church of San Giorgio. The similarly named trails therefore have different routes and points of reference: the Sentiero leads to Stampa, while the Photo Trail ends at the grave near Borgonovo.

San Giorgio: church, stained-glass window, and cemetery

San Giorgio is a simple Protestant church in the late Gothic style. It was first mentioned in documents around 1327 and rebuilt in 1694. Inside is a famous stained-glass window by Augusto Giacometti. The graves of Giovanni, Alberto, Diego, and Augusto Giacometti are in the adjoining cemetery. The church and cemetery thus bring architectural history and Giacometti connections together in one place.

Cultural sites in Stampa and Coltura

Nearby, in Stampa, the valley museum Ciäsa Granda is housed in a manor house built in 1581. It covers the flora, fauna, and geology of Bregaglia, as well as the former way of life of the valley’s inhabitants; works by Giacometti and Varlin are on display in the Giacometti-Varlin room. In Coltura, visitors can explore Palazzo Castelmur. Its northern section dates from 1723; Baron Giovanni Castelmur built the southern section between 1850 and 1855. The property also includes extensive gardens and the valley’s historical archive. The cultural sites differ in their focus: Ciäsa Granda combines natural and valley history with art, while Palazzo Castelmur brings together architectural history, gardens, and an archive.

An overview of Via Bregaglia

After the old houses of Borgonovo, Via Bregaglia runs for a stretch along the left side of the valley, beside the main road. Via Bregaglia is accessible by public transport; check current connections before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Promontogno.

Return to the main travel overview: Bregaglia.